Water heating installation



March 19, 1946.

J. L. BIELER WATER HEATING INSTALLATION Filed Aug. 22, 19 41 Pal IN YENTOR Patented Mar. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 22, 1941,.Serial No; 407,988 In" Canada August 24, 1940 9 Claims.

Introduction This invention relates to an apparatus for supplying hot and cold water, for instance in a shower bath installation.

The applicant's U. S. Patent No. 2,213,895, September 3, 1940, discloses a device of this nature in which a pair of valves are provided, one for controlling the supply of cold water and the other for the hot. This apparatus embodiesmeans for preventing the hot water control valve from being turned on before the cold so as to prevent an initial burst of scalding water.

Objects It is an object of the present invention to furnish an apparatus which will achieve similar results with a single regulating handle for furnishing hot and cold water.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus of this nature in which accurate control of the water temperature is possible.

As in the disclosure of the applicants prior patent, the apparatus of the present invention supplies hot and cold water through a common outlet and the water is heated by a local heat exchanger, but in this case the variation in temperature of the water supply is regulated through the heat exchanger rather than through the respective volumes of heated and unheated water. Only a single control handle is required to regulate the volume and temperature of the water. The exchanger is made adjustable as regards heat transfer capacity by a trombone tube arrangement.

Drawing Having thus generally referred to the invention, a specific example of its embodiment in a practicably applicable device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing a shower bath unit constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken along the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a reduced rear elevation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Fluid connections Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, a preferred form of hot and cold water heating and mixing installation is illustrated. D is a bracketfor supporting the installation for a shower bath. Supported by the bracketis a vertically' extending pipe IID; connected to an out.- let-pipe I13; Connected to: the top end of the pipe H0 is a. T III. Rigidly connected to the'I? I'I.I' through a fitting l2ll and extending co-a-xially withinthe pipe: I:I'0,.is a tube I25 plugged. at the bottom and adapted to receive steam and to serve'as a heating. element. The tube I25 is connected: at itsupper end to the fitting I20. Within this tube is a condensate return tube I21 and other parts to form an arrangement such'as that described in conjunction with Figures 1 and: 2 of the applicants Patent No. 2,213,895,. and as indicated. in. the present drawing. That is to say; the condensate-return tube I2! is smaller in diameter than the tube I25 and extends co a-xi'allydownwards therein and has a plug. mushroominglaterally from its lower end to plug itand also to engage the sides of the tube I25. The-eifective heating surface of the tube I25: is that which is filled with steam. There is no appreciable heat transfer between condensate lying at the bottomandthe water outside. The tube I21 has asliding fit in the fixture I28 whereby it may be moved up or down within the tube I25. By moving tube I21 upwards or downwards the condensate return level is altered, hence the capacity of the heat exchanger can be adjusted. This gives the device additionalsafety as the maximum temperature to which the water'is heated is under control. A readjustment may be made from time to time to correct for seasonal changes in water temperature, or changes in steam pressure.

The upper end of the pipev I25 is connected to a steam inlet pipe I30 extending from axrotatable steam valve I3I controlling the steam supplyfrom apipe I32. A- water connection is made with the laterally extending portion of the T through the fitting I35 connected to a rotatable water valve I 40. Water may thusbe supplied to the pipe III) to run downwardly in' the annulus formed'between it and the steam pipe I25.

Controlling mechanism Both the steam and water valves are of the quick-opening type; They are both controlled by a single handle, aswill be explained. The water valve includes a downwardl extending stem I50 journalled in the bracket D and connected to a handle I5I. On the stem I50 is mounted a cam I60, through which the steam valve is operated. The steam valve I3I includes a downwardly extending stern I33 on which is mountedv a lever I34, having a r01ler'I35 adapted for contact-with thecam I: The stemincludes a spring I35 normall'y urging it in'- contra-clockwise. direction (looking down in relation to the figures) against the surface of the cam. In this way the steam valve is normally held in closed position except when urged towards the open position by the cam I60 acting on the lever I34.

Operation Steam is normally available from the inlet pipe I32 and cold water from the inlet pipe I00. Both the valves remain closed when the handle I5I is in closed position, the steam valve being urged 13:50 closed position by the action of the spring To operate the apparatus, the handle I5I is turned towards the open position (clockwise, looking down on the figure) which immediately opens the cold Water valve and allows cold water to flow down through the pipe H to the outlet H3. When the cold water valve is turned on further, the cam I60 begins to act on the lever I34 and to rotate the valve stem I33 so that the steam valve is gradually opened that is, the cold water valve and the steam valve are operated in sequence. Cold water is thus supplied first and then warm water, as steam is allowed to pass through the steam valve I3I into the steam tube I25. The steam pressure within this tube will depend upon the extent to which the steam valve is opened (by operating the handle I5I). Thus the water in the pipe H0 will be heated to the extent desired. The condensate is picked up by tube I21.

It will be seen that first cold water is supplied and then hot, depending upon the amount of steam admitted to the steam chamber. Further adjustment is possible through the trombone arrangement by which the desired amount of heat transfer can be set.

When the handle I5I is turned towards closed position, the steam is first turned off until only cold water is passing through the pipe H0. It will beseen that this is a highly desirable arrangement, since scalding water cannot be supplied at any time. Cold water must necessarily be the first to be turned on and then the hot water will come only gradually until the desired temperature is arrived at. Moreover, if the cold water happened to be turned off at a remote point, no scalding water would be supplied as in the case of an apparatus embodying a ,mixing valve for steam and cold water or for hot water and cold. The apparatus is also advantageous in saving parts and material, only one handle being needed for two valves.

It will be understood however, that the detailed description is illustrative only of preferred forms of the invention as used in shower bath installations. Various modifications and applications according to the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the claims, so that the exact forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for supplying hot and cold water for use in connection with a water supply and a steam supply, comprising in combination, a water passage leading from said water supply to an outlet, a control valve for said supply, a steam tube coaxially arranged in said passage, a connection between said steam supply and said tube, a steam control valve controlling said steam supply to said tube, a stem on said steam control valve, a lever on said stem, a stem on said water valve, a cam on said water valve stem to cooper- (ill ate with said lever, whereby the operation of the water valve stem causes actuation of the steam valve lever, the steam and water valves being so adjusted that the cold water must be turned on before the steam.

2. An apparatus for supplying hot and cold water for use in conjunction with a water supply and a source of heat, comprising in combination, a water passage leading from said water supply to an outlet, a control valvefor said supply, a heating element in said passage, a connection between said source of heat and said element, an actuating member controlling said connection, a stem connected to said member, a lever on said stem, a stem on said water valve, a cam on said water valve stem to cooperate with said lever whereby the operation of the water valve stem causes actuation of the actuating member, the water valve and actuating member being so adjusted that the cold water must be turned on before the heating element.

3. 'An apparatus for supplying hot and cold water for use in connection with a water supply and a steam supply, comprising, in combination, a water passage leading from said water supply to an outlet, a control valve for said supply, a steam tube coaxially arranged in said passage, a connection between said steam supply and said tube, a steam control valve controlling said steam supply to said tube, a stem on said steam control valve, a lever on said stem, a stem on said water valve, a cam on said water valve stem to cooperate with said lever whereby the operation of the water valve stem causes actuation of the steam valve lever, and a handle on said water valve stem whereby both water and steam are regulated.

4. An apparatus for supplying hot and cold water for use in connection with a water supply and a steam supply, comprising in combination, an outlet, a water passage leading from said supply to said outlet, a valve for controlling the entrance of water to said passage, a steam tube extending within said passage, a connection between said steam supply and said steam tube, a valve controlling said connection, a stem on each valve, an arm connected to the stem of the steam valve, a cam on the stem of the water valve adapted to engage said arm, a handle on said cold water valve stem, means normally urging said steam valve stem towards the closed position, the arrangement of said cam and said lever being such that the water valve and steam valve are operated by movement of said water valve stem, said cam being unengageable by said arm in an initial open position of said water valve whereby the water valve is turned on before and turned at! after the steam valve.

5. An apparatus of the type described for use in combination with a water supply and a steam supply, comprising, a water outlet, a water passage leading to said outlet, a connection between said water supply and said passage, a valve controlling said connection, a heat exchanger in said passage including a steam chamber, a steam connection between said steam supply and said steam chamber, a steam valve -for controlling said steam connection, a control for said water valve, a control for said steam valve, connecting means between said controls whereby the operation of said water and steam valves is in sequence, and a common member for actuating both said valve controls said control for said steam valve being unengageable by said connecting means in an initial open position of said water valve control means whereby the water valve is turned on before and turned off after the steam valve.

6. An apparatus for supplying hot and cold water for use in connection with a water supply, comprising, a water outlet, a water passage leading to said outlet, a valve for controlling the entrance of water to said passage, a heating element within said passage, a first rotatably operable member for controlling said water valve, a second rotatably operable member for controlling said heating element, an arm extending from said second member, a cam connected to said first member and adapted to act on said arm when said first member is rotated towards its open position, said arm being 'unengageable by said cam in an initial open position of said rotatably operable member spring means acting independently to urge said second member towards closed position, said cam and said arm being so related that the first means moves said water valve to an open position before said cam acts on said arm.

'7. An apparatus, according to claim 1, including a handle on said water valve stem for manipulating both the water and steam valves.

8. An apparatus for supplying hot and cold water for use in connection with a water supply and a steam supply, comprising in combination, a water passage leading from said water supply to an outlet, a control valve for said supply, a steam tube in said passage, a connection between said steam supply and said tube, a steam control valve controlling said steam supply to said tube, a stem on said steam control valve, a member on said stem, a stem on said water valve, a part on said water valve stem to cooperate with said member, whereby the operation of the water valve stem causes actuation of the steam valve member, the steam and water valves being so adjusted that the cold water must be turned on before the steam.

9. In an apparatus for supplying hot and cold water a water supply and an outlet, a passage leading from said supply to said outlet, a water valve between said supply and said passage, a steam tube extending within said passage, a steam supply having a connection with said tube, a steam valve for controlling said steam supply, control means for operating said water valve, actuating means for operating said steam valve and means for eifecting an operative connection between said control means and said actuating means after said control means has been moved past an initial open position whereby said steam valve is turned on after said water valve.

J. L. BIELER. 

